Semiconductor device and method for manufacturing the same

ABSTRACT

A semiconductor device includes a substrate and a first insulating layer. The first insulating layer includes a first lower layer and a first upper layer on the first lower layer. The first insulating layer has a first opening through the first lower layer and the first upper layer. A maximum width of the first opening at the first lower layer is different from a maximum width of the first opening at the first upper layer.

This application claims priority to and the benefit of Korean PatentApplication No. 10-2010-0093108, filed in the Korean IntellectualProperty Office on Sep. 27, 2010, the entire contents of which areincorporated herein by reference for all purposes as if set forthherein.

BACKGROUND

1. Field of the Invention

Exemplary embodiments of the invention relates to semiconductor devicesand methods for manufacturing the same.

2. Description of the Related Art

A solar cell converts light energy into electrical energy using thephotoelectric effect. Solar power generation using solar cells has beenwidely used for obtaining environmentally friendly energy. Solar powergeneration systems using solar cell modules have been increasinglyinstalled on houses due to improvements in efficiencies of solar cells.

A first related art solar cell includes a substrate and an emitter layerthat forms a p-n junction with the substrate, thereby generating anelectric current using light incident on one surface of the substrate.However, electric current is only generated by the light incident on theone surface of the substrate.

A second related solar cell is a double-sided solar cell, for whichelectric current is generated using light incident on two opposingsurfaces of the solar cell.

SUMMARY

Accordingly, the present invention is directed to semiconductor devicesand methods of manufacturing the same that substantially obviate one ormore of the problems due to limitations and disadvantages of the relatedart.

Therefore, an advantage of the present invention is to provide asemiconductor device capable of having a maximum width of an opening ata lower portion different from a maximum width of an opening at an upperportion.

To achieve these and other advantages and in accordance with the purposeof the present invention, as embodied and broadly described herein,there is provided a semiconductor device, including: a substrate; and afirst insulating layer on a first surface of the substrate, the firstinsulating layer including a first lower layer and a first upper layeron the first lower layer, the first insulating layer having a firstopening through the first lower layer and the first upper layer, whereina maximum width of the first opening at the first lower layer isdifferent from a maximum width of the first opening at the first upperlayer.

In another aspect, a method for manufacturing a semiconductor deviceincludes: forming an insulating layer on a substrate by forming a lowerlayer on the substrate and forming an upper layer on the lower layer,wherein a material of the upper layer is different than a material ofthe lower layer; and patterning the insulating layer to form an openingin the insulating layer, wherein the patterning of the insulating layerincludes: dry etching the upper layer using a laser; and wet etching thelower layer using the upper layer as a mask.

In yet another aspect, a method for manufacturing a semiconductor deviceincludes: forming an emitter layer at a front surface of a substrate fora solar cell; forming a back surface field layer at a back surface ofthe substrate; forming a front anti-reflection layer, including formingat least a first lower layer and an first upper layer on the emitterlayer; forming a back anti-reflection layer, including forming at leasta second lower layer and a second upper layer on the back surface fieldlayer; forming a plurality of first openings in the frontanti-reflection layer; forming a plurality of second openings in theback anti-reflection layer; forming a plurality of first electrodes onportions of the emitter layer exposed through the plurality of firstopenings; and forming a plurality of second electrodes on portions ofthe back surface field layer exposed through the plurality of secondopenings, wherein the steps of forming the plurality of first and secondopenings includes: dry etching the first upper layer and the secondupper layer; and wet etching the first lower layer and the second lowerlayer using the first upper layer and the second upper layer as masks.

It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description andthe following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory and areintended to provide further explanation of the invention as claimed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a furtherunderstanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute apart of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention andtogether with the description serve to explain the principles of theinvention. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 illustrates a schematic cross-sectional view of a semiconductordevice according to an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 2 illustrates an enlarged schematic cross-sectional view of aportion of the semiconductor device shown in FIG. 1;

FIGS. 3 to 6 illustrate schematic cross-sectional views sequentiallyillustrating a method for manufacturing the semiconductor device shownin FIG. 1; and

FIGS. 7 and 8 illustrate enlarged schematic cross-sectional views of aportion of the semiconductor device shown in FIG. 6.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS

The invention will be described more fully hereinafter with reference tothe accompanying drawings, in which example embodiments of theinventions are shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in manydifferent forms and should not be construed as limited to theembodiments set forth herein.

In the drawings, the thickness of layers, films, panels, regions, etc.,are exaggerated for clarity. Like reference numerals designate likeelements throughout the specification. It will be understood that whenan element such as a layer, film, region, or substrate is referred to asbeing “on” another element, it can be directly on the other element orintervening elements may also be present. In contrast, when an elementis referred to as being “directly on” another element, there are nointervening elements present. Further, it will be understood that whenan element such as a layer, film, region, or substrate is referred to asbeing “entirely” on another element, it may be on the entire surface ofthe other element and may not be on a portion of an edge of the otherelement.

FIG. 1 illustrates a schematic cross-sectional view of a semiconductordevice according to an exemplary embodiment. FIG. 2 illustrates anenlarged schematic cross-sectional view of a portion of thesemiconductor device shown in FIG. 1. FIGS. 3 to 6 illustrate schematiccross-sectional views sequentially illustrating a method formanufacturing the semiconductor device shown in FIG. 1. FIGS. 7 and 8illustrate enlarged schematic cross-sectional views of a portion of thesemiconductor device shown in FIG. 6.

A semiconductor device 100 may include a substrate 110 and a firstinsulating layer 130. The first insulating layer 130 may be on a firstsurface of the substrate 110, such as a front surface. The firstinsulating layer 130 may be positioned on portions of the substrate 110and not positioned on other portions of the substrate 110, formingopenings in the first insulating layer 130. A maximum width of a lowerportion of an opening in the first insulating layer 130 may be differentthan a maximum width of an upper portion of the opening in the firstinsulating layer 130. For example, the maximum width of the lowerportion of the opening in the first insulating layer 130 may be greaterthan a maximum width of the upper portion of the opening in the firstinsulating layer 130.

In one embodiment, the first insulating layer 130 may include at leasttwo layers positioned on the first surface of the substrate 110, and theopening may be formed in a lower layer 133 and an upper layer 131. Amaximum width of the opening in the lower layer 133 may be differentthan a maximum width of the opening in the upper layer 131. For example,the maximum width of the opening in the lower layer 133 may be greaterthan the maximum width of the opening in the upper layer 131.

The semiconductor device 100 may include a plurality of first electrodes140. The plurality of first electrodes 140 may be positioned in theopenings in the first insulating layer 130, respectively.

The semiconductor device 100 may further include a second insulatinglayer 160 positioned on a second surface of the substrate 110, such as aback surface. The second insulating layer 160 may be positioned onportions of the substrate 110 and not positioned on other portions ofthe substrate 110, forming openings in the second insulating layer 160.

The semiconductor device 100 may include a plurality of secondelectrodes 170. The plurality of second electrodes 170 may be positionedin the openings in the second insulating layer 160, respectively.

The semiconductor device 100 may function, for example, as a solar cell100. The solar cell 100 may include an emitter layer 120, which may bepositioned at the front surface of the substrate 110. In one aspect, theemitter layer 120 may be formed in the front surface of the substrate110 by, for example, doping.

The first insulating layer 130 may be positioned on the emitter layer120 and may function as a front anti-reflection layer 130. The pluralityof first electrodes 140 may be positioned on the emitter layer 120, suchas at the openings in the front anti-reflection layer 130.

The solar cell 100 may include a back surface field (BSF) layer 150,which may be positioned at the back surface of the substrate 110. In oneaspect, the back surface field (BSF) layer 150 may be formed in the backsurface of the substrate 110 by, for example, doping.

The second insulating layer 160 may be positioned on the BSF layer 150and may function as a back anti-reflection layer 160. The plurality ofsecond electrodes 170 may be positioned on the BSF layer 150, such as atthe openings in the back anti-reflection layer 160.

The substrate 110 may be formed of a silicon wafer or may be formed ofother semiconductor materials other than silicon, and the substrate 110may be of a first conductive type, such as n-type, or asecond-conductive type, such as p-type. Silicon used in the substrate110 may be crystalline silicon, such as single crystal silicon orpolycrystalline silicon, or may be amorphous silicon.

If substrate 110 is n-type silicon, the substrate 110 may containimpurities of a group V element, such as phosphorus (P), arsenic (As),and antimony (Sb). If substrate 110 is p-type silicon, the substrate 110may contain impurities of a group III element, such as boron (B),gallium (Ga), and indium (In).

The surface of the substrate 110 may be textured to form a texturedsurface corresponding to an uneven surface or having unevencharacteristics. The substrate 110 may have a first textured surface 111corresponding to the front surface at which the emitter layer 120 may bepositioned and a second textured surface 113 corresponding to the backsurface at which the back surface field layer 150 may be positioned.

The emitter layer 120 positioned at the first textured surface 111 ofthe substrate 110 may be an impurity region of a second conductive type(for example, p-type) opposite the first conductive type (for example,n-type) of the substrate 110. The emitter layer 120 may form a p-njunction along with the substrate 110.

A plurality of electron-hole pairs produced by light incident on thesubstrate 110 may be separated into electrons and holes by a built-inpotential difference resulting from the p-n junction between thesubstrate 110 and the emitter layer 120. Then, the separated electronsmay move to the n-type semiconductor, and the separated holes may moveto the p-type semiconductor. Thus, if substrate 110 is n-type and theemitter layer 120 is p-type, the separated electrons and the separatedholes may move to the substrate 110 and the emitter layer 120,respectively. Accordingly, the electrons may become major carriers inthe substrate 110, and the holes may become major carriers in theemitter layer 120.

If emitter layer 120 is p-type, the emitter layer 120 may be formed bydoping the substrate 110 with impurities of a group III element such asB, Ga, and In.

On the contrary, if substrate 110 is p-type, the emitter layer 120 maybe n-type. In this case, the separated holes may move to the substrate110, and the separated electrons may move to the emitter layer 120. Ifemitter layer 120 is n-type, the emitter layer 120 may be formed bydoping the substrate 110 with impurities of a group V element such as P,As, and Sb.

The front anti-reflection layer 130 on the emitter layer 120 at thefront surface of the substrate 110 may contain a metal oxide-basedmaterial. The front anti-reflection layer 130 may include a first upperlayer 131 formed of silicon nitride (SiNx: H) and a first lower layer133 positioned between the emitter layer 120 and the first upper layer131.

The first lower layer 133 may be formed of a material (for example,aluminum oxide (AlOx)) that has absorption coefficients or band gapsgreatly different from that of silicon nitride (SiNx: H).

The front anti-reflection layer 130 may serve as an anti-reflectionlayer, which may reduce a reflectance of light incident through thefront surface of the substrate 110 and may increase a selectivity of apredetermined wavelength band, and may also serve as a passivationlayer.

The first lower layer 133 formed of aluminum oxide (AlOx) may have arefractive index of 1.55 to 1.7 and may have a thickness equal to orless than 50 nm, and the first upper layer 131 formed of silicon nitride(SiNx: H) may have a refractive index of 1.9 to 2.3 and may have athickness of 50 nm to 100 nm, so as to minimize the light reflectance inthe front anti-reflection layer 130.

According to an experiment conducted by the inventors, the lightreflectance in the front anti-reflection layer 130 was minimized whenthe first lower layer 133 was formed of aluminum oxide, the first upperlayer 131 was formed of silicon nitride, and each of the layers 133 and131 were within the above refractive index and thickness ranges.

As the metal oxide-based material used to form the first lower layer133, silicon nitride (SiNx: H) may be used instead of aluminum oxide(AlOx).

The first upper layer 131 may be formed of aluminum oxide, siliconoxide, silicon oxynitride, or titanium oxide, instead of siliconnitride. In one aspect, the first upper layer 131 and the first lowerlayer 133 may be formed of different materials.

The front anti-reflection layer 130 may include a plurality of openingsexposing a portion of the emitter layer 120. The openings may be aplurality of first contact lines CL1 formed in a line pattern. The firstelectrodes 140 may be formed on the emitter layer 120 exposed throughthe first contact lines CL1.

In an exemplary embodiment, a maximum width of the opening positioned inthe first lower layer 133 adjacent to the substrate 110 may be differentfrom a maximum width of the opening positioned in the first upper layer131. Further, a cross-sectional area and an average width of the firstopening positioned in the first lower layer 133 may be greater than across-sectional area and an average width of the opening positioned inthe first upper layer 131.

Each of the plurality of first contact lines CL1 may include a firstportion CL1-1 positioned in the first upper layer 131 and a secondportion CL1-2 positioned in the first lower layer 133. A maximum widthof the first portion CL1-1 may be different from a maximum width of thesecond portion CL1-2.

The first portion CL1-1 may have a substantially uniform width W1, andthe second portion CL1-2 may have a non-uniform width. Namely, a widthW2 of the second portion CL1-2 adjacent to the first portion CL1-1 maybe greater than a width W3 of the second portion CL1-2 adjacent to thesubstrate 110. Thus, the maximum width of the first portion CL1-1 is W1,the maximum width of the second portion CL1-2 is W2, and a minimum widthof the second portion CL1-2 is W3.

In the structure of the first contact lines CL1, the side surface of thefirst upper layer 131 exposed by the first portion CL1-1 may be formedin the form of a substantially straight line, and the side surface ofthe first lower layer 133 exposed by the second portion CL1-2 may beformed in the form of a curved line.

Regarding the shape of the first contact lines CL1, the width W2 of anupper end portion of the second portion CL1-2 may be greater than thewidth W1 of the first portion CL1-1. Further, a width of an upper endportion of the first portion CL1-1 and a width of a lower end portion ofthe first portion CL1-1 may be substantially equal to each other, i.e.,W1.

The width W2 of the upper end portion of the second portion CL1-2 may begreater than the width W3 of a lower end portion of the second portionCL1-2. The width W3 of the lower end portion of the second portion CL1-2may be greater than the width W1 of the lower end portion of the firstportion CL1-1.

In the exemplary embodiment, the width of the lower end portion of thefirst portion CL1-1 indicates a separation distance between the firstupper layers 131 measured in a lower surface of the first upper layer131. The width of the upper end portion of the first portion CL1-1indicates a separation distance between the first upper layers 131measured in an upper surface of the first upper layer 131. The width W2of the upper end portion of the second portion CL1-2 indicates aseparation distance between the first lower layers 133 measured in anupper surface of the first lower layer 133. The width W3 of the lowerend portion of the second portion CL1-2 indicates a separation distancebetween the first lower layers 133 measured in a lower surface of thefirst lower layer 133.

Accordingly, a contact surface between the first electrode 140 and thefirst upper layer 131 may be a substantially flat surface, and a contactsurface between the first electrode 140 and the first lower layer 133may be a curved surface.

The width W2 of the upper end portion of the second portion CL1-2 andthe width W3 of the lower end portion of the second portion CL1-2 may beadjusted based on etching conditions of the front anti-reflection layer130.

The width W1 of the first portion CL1-1 of the first contact line CL1may be 20 μm to 60 μm, and a plane area of the first portion CL1-1 maybe 2% to 6% of a plane area of the emitter layer 120, so that the firstelectrode 140 may have a narrow width and a high aspect ratio.

If the width W1 of the first portion CL1-1 is within the above range,the first electrode 140 may be formed to have a thickness of 20 μm to 50μm using a plating process.

According to the above-described structure, the first electrode 140 mayhave a high aspect ratio of 0.83 to 1, which is a ratio of a height ofthe first electrode to a contact area between the first electrode andthe substrate

The first electrodes 140 formed on the emitter layer 120 exposed throughthe first contact line CL1 may be electrically and physically connectedto the emitter layer 120. The first electrodes 140 may extendsubstantially parallel to one another in a fixed direction. The firstelectrodes 140 may collect carriers (for example, holes) moving to theemitter layer 120.

In an exemplary embodiment, the first electrode 140 may be formed usinga plating layer. The plating layer may include a metal seed layer 141, adiffusion barrier layer 142, and a conductive layer 143 that may besequentially formed on the emitter layer 120.

The metal seed layer 141 may be formed of a material containing nickel,for example, nickel silicide (such as Ni₂Si, NiSi, NiSi₂, etc.) and mayhave a thickness of 50 nm to 200 nm.

If the thickness of the metal seed layer 141 is less than 50 nm, a highresistance may be obtained and it may be difficult to form the uniformmetal seed layer 141. Thus, it may be difficult to secure the uniformityin a subsequent process, such as in a plating process of the diffusionbarrier layer 142. If the thickness of the metal seed layer 141 isgreater than 200 nm, the metal seed layer 141 may be distributed tosilicon at a constant rate in a thermal process forming a nickelsilicide layer. Thus, a shunt leakage may occur because of thedistribution of nickel.

The diffusion barrier layer 142 on the metal seed layer 141 may preventjunction degradation caused by a material of the conductive layer 143being diffused into a silicon interface through the metal seed layer141. The diffusion barrier layer 142 may be, for example, a nickel layerhaving a thickness of 5 μm to 15 μm.

The conductive layer 143 on the diffusion barrier layer 142 may beformed of one or more conductive metal materials, such as nickel (Ni),copper (Cu), silver (Ag), aluminum (Al), tin (Sn), zinc (Zn), indium(In), titanium (Ti), gold (Au), or combinations thereof. Other materialsmay also be used.

In an exemplary embodiment, the conductive layer 143 may include acopper layer 143 a. The copper layer 143 a may have high conductivityand may have a thickness of 10 μm to 30 μm. However, copper easilyoxidizes in air and also is difficult to directly solder to aninterconnector, such as a ribbon for electrically connecting adjacentsolar cells 100 to the copper layer 143 a in a module process. Thus, theconductive layer 143 may further include a tin layer 143 b that mayprevent oxidization of copper and may aid in smoothly performing asoldering process of the ribbon. The tin layer 143 b on the copper layer143 a may have a thickness of 5 μm to 15 μm. The tin layer 143 b mayalso be omitted.

The first electrode 140 may also be formed using a conductive pastecontaining a conductive material, such as silver (Ag). A method forforming the first electrode 140 using the conductive paste is well knownto those skilled in the art.

The back surface field layer 150 may be positioned at a portion of or atthe entire back surface of the substrate 110. The back surface fieldlayer 150 may be a region (for example, n⁺-type region) that is moreheavily doped with impurities of the same conductive type as thesubstrate 110 than the substrate 110.

The movement of holes to the back surface of the substrate 110 may beprevented or reduced by a potential barrier resulting from a differencebetween impurity concentrations of the substrate 110 and the backsurface field layer 150. Hence, a recombination and/or a disappearanceof electrons and holes around the surface of the substrate 110 may beprevented or reduced.

The back anti-reflection layer 160 and the second electrodes 170 may bepositioned on the back surface of the back surface field layer 150. Theback anti-reflection layer 160 may reduce a reflectance of lightincident through the back surface of the substrate 110 and may increasea selectivity of a predetermined wavelength band, thereby increasing theefficiency of the solar cell 100. Further, the back anti-reflectionlayer 160 may serve as a passivation layer.

The back anti-reflection layer 160 may have the same structure as thefront anti-reflection layer 130. In other words, the backanti-reflection layer 160 may include a second upper layer 161 formed ofsilicon nitride (SiNx: H) and a second lower layer 163 that may bepositioned between the back surface field layer 150 and the second upperlayer 161. The second lower layer 163 may be formed of, for example,aluminum oxide (AlOx) or silicon oxide (SiOx).

The second upper layer 161 and the second lower layer 163 of the backanti-reflection layer 160 may be formed of a material different from thefirst upper layer 131 and the first lower layer 133 of the frontanti-reflection layer 130, respectively.

The back anti-reflection layer 160 may include a plurality of openingsexposing a portion of the back surface field layer 150. The openings maybe a plurality of second contact lines CL2 formed in a line pattern. Thesecond electrodes 170 may be formed on the back surface field layer 150exposed through the second contact lines CL2.

The second contact line CL2 may have the same structure as the firstcontact line CL1. Thus, each of the plurality of second contact linesCL2 may include a third portion CL2-1 positioned in the second upperlayer 161 and a fourth portion CL2-2 positioned in the second lowerlayer 163.

In an exemplary embodiment, a width of the third portion CL2-1 may besubstantially equal to a width of the first portion CL1-1. Further, awidth of an upper end portion of the fourth portion CL2-2 may besubstantially equal to the width W2 of the upper end portion of thesecond portion CL1-2, and a width of a lower end portion of the fourthportion CL2-2 may be substantially equal to the width W3 of the lowerend portion of the second portion CL1-2.

However, if the front anti-reflection layer 130 and the backanti-reflection layer 160 are formed of different materials, thestructure, the etching conditions, or a width of each portion of thefirst contact line CL1 may be different from a width of each portion ofthe second contact line CL2.

A contact surface between the second electrode 170 and the second upperlayer 161 may be a substantially flat surface, and a contact surfacebetween the second electrode 170 and the second lower layer 163 may be acurved surface.

The second electrodes 170 on the back surface of the back surface fieldlayer 150 exposed through the second contact lines CL2 collect carriers(for example, electrons) moving to the substrate 110 and output thecarriers to an external device.

The second electrode 170 may be formed of the same material as or amaterial different from the first electrode 140. The second electrode170 may have the same width as the first electrode 140. Alternatively,the second electrode 170 may have a width greater than a width of thefirst electrode 140, so as to secure a line resistance.

The solar cell 100 may serve as a double-sided light receiving solarcell, and an operation of the solar cell 100 is described below.

When light irradiated onto the solar cell 100 is incident on thesubstrate 110 through the emitter layer 120 and/or the back surfacefield layer 150, a plurality of electron-hole pairs may be generated inthe substrate 110 by light energy produced based on the light incidenton the substrate 110. Because the front surface and the back surface ofthe substrate 110 may be a first textured surface 111 and a secondtextured surface 113, respectively, a light reflectance in each of thefront surface and the back surface of the substrate 110 may be reduced.Further, because both a light incident operation and a light reflectionoperation may be performed on each of the first and second texturedsurfaces 111 and 113 of the substrate 110, light may be confined in thesolar cell 100. Hence, a light absorption may increase and theefficiency of the solar cell 100 may be improved. In addition, because areflection loss of the light incident on the substrate 110 may bereduced by the front and back anti-reflection layers 130 and 160, anamount of light incident on the substrate 110 may further increase.

The electron-hole pairs may be separated into electrons and holes by thep-n junction between the substrate 110 and the emitter layer 120, andthe separated holes may move to the p-type emitter layer 120 and theseparated electrons may move to the n-type substrate 110. The holesmoving to the emitter layer 120 may move to the first electrodes 140,and the electrons moving to the substrate 110 may move to the secondelectrodes 170 through the back surface field layer 150. Accordingly, ifthe first electrodes 140 of one solar cell 100 are connected to thesecond electrodes 170 of an adjacent solar cell 100 using, for example,electric wires, current flows therein to thereby enable use of thecurrent for electric power.

The solar cell 100 may be used when the solar cell 100 is positionedbetween a light transmission front substrate and a light transmissionback substrate and is sealed by a protective layer.

A method for manufacturing the solar cell 100 may include forming thelower layer on the substrate 110 and forming the upper layer on thelower layer using a material different from the lower layer to form theinsulating layer and patterning the insulating layer to form theopening. The patterning of the insulating layer may include performingthe dry etching process using a laser on the upper layer and performingthe wet etching process on the lower layer using the upper layer as amask.

A method for manufacturing the solar cell 100 is described below.

First, as illustrated in FIG. 3, the first textured surface 111 may beformed on the front surface of the substrate 110, and the secondtextured surface 113 may be formed on the back surface of the substrate110.

The substrate 110 formed of silicon wafer may be manufactured by slicinga silicon block or an ingot using a blade or a multi-wire saw. Thesilicon wafer may be doped with impurities of a group V element, forexample, phosphorus (P) to form an n-type semiconductor substrate as thesubstrate 110.

If the silicon block or the ingot is sliced, a mechanically damagedlayer may be formed in the silicon wafer. Thus, a wet etching processfor removing the mechanically damaged layer may be performed to removethe damaged layer, so as to prevent a reduction in characteristics ofthe solar cell 100 resulting from the mechanically damaged layer. Analkaline etchant or an acid etchant may be used in the wet etchingprocess.

After the mechanically damaged layer is removed, the wet etching processor a dry etching process using plasma may be performed to form the firsttextured surface 111 in the front surface of the substrate 110 and toform the second textured surface 113 in the back surface of thesubstrate 110.

After the first and second textured surfaces 111 and 113 are formed, thefront surface of the substrate 110 may be doped with impurities of agroup III element to form the emitter layer 120. Further, the backsurface of the substrate 110 may be doped with impurities of a group Velement to form the back surface field layer 150.

Subsequently, a natural oxide layer may be removed by etching thesubstrate 110 using hydrofluoric acid (HF). The front anti-reflectionlayer 130 may be formed on the emitter layer 120, and the backanti-reflection layer 160 may be formed on the back surface of the backsurface field layer 150.

The front anti-reflection layer 130 and the back anti-reflection layer160 may be manufactured by depositing aluminum oxide or silicon oxideusing, for example, a plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD)method or a sputtering method, or the lower layer may be formed and thensilicon nitride may be deposited using, for example, the PECVD method orthe sputtering method to form the upper layer.

Subsequently, a dry etching process using a laser is performed to removea portion of the first upper layer 131 of the front anti-reflectionlayer 130 and a portion of the second upper layer 161 of the backanti-reflection layer 160. Hence, the first portion CL1-1 of the firstcontact line CL1 and the third portion CL2-1 of the second contact lineCL2 may be formed.

In the dry etching process, a portion of the first upper layer 131 andthe second upper layer 161 may be removed by applying a UV laser. If thefirst lower layer 133 and the second lower layer 163 are formed ofaluminum oxide, which may have absorption coefficients or band gapsgreatly different from silicon nitride, a portion of each of the firstupper layer 131 and the second upper layer 161 may be removed byapplying an UV laser having a wavelength of about 355 nm to the firstupper layer 131 and the second upper layer 161 at a frequencycorresponding to a bonding energy of silicon nitride.

Further, even if the first lower layer 133 and the second lower layer163 are formed of silicon oxide in which there may be little differencebetween absorption coefficients or band gaps of silicon nitride andsilicon oxide, the UV laser may be used to remove the first upper layer131 and the second upper layer 161.

As above, if the dry etching process using the laser is performed toform the first portion CL1-1 of the first contact line CL1 and the thirdportion CL2-1 of the second contact line CL2, a damage resulting fromthe laser may be absorbed by the first lower layer 133 and the secondlower layer 163. Thus, damage of the substrate 110 by the laser may beprevented.

Subsequently, a selective wet etching process may be performed on anexposed portion of each of the first lower layer 133 and the secondlower layer 163 to remove the exposed portion. Hence, the second portionCL1-2 of the first contact line CL1 and the fourth portion CL2-2 of thesecond contact line CL2 are formed.

As above, if the first lower layer 133 and the second lower layer 163are removed using the selective wet etching process, particles generatedin the dry etching process may be removed. Therefore, a separate wetetching process for removing the particles may be omitted.

In the wet etching process an etchant capable of etching only a materialor materials of each of the first lower layer 133 and the second lowerlayer 163 may be used or an etchant favoring etching of the material ormaterials of each of the first lower layer 133 and the second lowerlayer 163 may be used. For example, a buffered oxide etchant (BOE)capable of selectively etching silicon nitride and metal oxide-basedmaterial may be used.

In the above-described method, a width of a lower portion of the firstelectrode 140 positioned on the first contact line CL1 may be greaterthan a width of an upper portion thereof. Further, a width of a lowerportion of the second electrode 170 positioned on the second contactline CL2 may be greater than a width of an upper portion thereof.

As described above, because the size of the electrode exposed to theoutside of the anti-reflection layer may decrease, a contact areabetween the electrode and the emitter layer or the back surface fieldlayer may increase while greatly suppressing a reduction in a lightincident area resulting from the electrode.

Furthermore, the process removes a damaged portion generated by thelaser and a separate wet etching process removes the particles is notnecessary. Further, even if the laser is used, the damage of thesubstrate may be prevented.

Although embodiments have been described with reference to a number ofillustrative embodiments thereof, it should be understood that numerousother modifications and embodiments can be devised by those skilled inthe art that will fall within the scope of the principles of thisdisclosure. More particularly, various variations and modifications arepossible in the component parts and/or arrangements of the subjectcombination arrangement within the scope of the disclosure, the drawingsand the appended claims. In addition to variations and modifications inthe component parts and/or arrangements, alternative uses will also beapparent to those skilled in the art.

1-48. (canceled)
 49. A method for manufacturing a semiconductor devicecomprising: forming an emitter layer at a front surface of a substratefor a solar cell; forming a first insulating layer, including forming alower insulating layer on the emitter layer and an upper insulatinglayer on the lower insulating layer; forming a second insulating layeron back surface opposite of the front surface of the substrate,including forming a lower insulating layer; forming a plurality of firstopenings in the first insulating layer; forming a plurality of firstelectrodes on portions of the emitter layer exposed through theplurality of first openings; and forming a plurality of secondelectrodes, wherein the steps of forming the plurality of first openingsincludes: a first etching step of dry etching a part of the firstinsulating layer using laser; and a second etching step of wet etching aremained of the first insulating layer
 50. The method of claim 49,wherein the second etching step includes removing particles generated inthe first etching step.
 51. The method of claim 49, wherein the lowerinsulating layer and the upper insulating layer of the first insulatinglayer are formed only on the front surface of the substrate.
 52. Themethod of claim 51, wherein the lower insulating layer of the firstinsulating layer on the front surface of the substrate and the lowerinsulating layer of the second insulating layer on the back surface ofthe substrate are simultaneously formed of the same material.
 53. Themethod of claim 52, wherein the lower insulating layer of the firstinsulating layer and the lower insulating layer of the second insulatinglayer are formed of aluminum oxide or silicon oxide, and the upperinsulating layer of the first insulating layer are formed of siliconoxide.
 54. The method of claim 1, further comprising, before forming thefirst insulating layer on the front surface of the substrate, forming aback surface field layer at the back surface of the substrate.
 55. Themethod of claim 54, further comprising, before forming the emitter layerand the back surface field layer, texturing at least one of the frontsurface and the back surface of the substrate to form a texturedsurface.
 56. The method of claim 49, further comprising, before formingthe plurality of second electrodes, forming a plurality of secondopenings in the second insulating layer.
 57. The method of claim 56, theplurality of second electrodes positioned on portions of the backsurface field layer exposed through the plurality of second openings.58. The method of claim 56, the second insulating layer furthercomprising an upper insulating layer on the lower insulating layer. 59.The method of claim 56, wherein the lower insulating layer of the firstinsulating layer on the front surface of the substrate and the lowerinsulating layer of the second insulating layer on the back surface ofthe substrate are simultaneously formed of the same material.
 60. Themethod of claim 59, wherein the lower insulating layer of the firstinsulating layer on the front surface of the substrate and the lowerinsulating layer of the second insulating layer on the back surface ofthe substrate are formed of aluminum oxide or silicon oxide.
 61. Themethod of claim 56, wherein the upper insulating layer of the firstinsulating layer on the front surface of the substrate and the upperinsulating layer of the second insulating layer on the back surface ofthe substrate are simultaneously formed of the same material.
 62. Themethod of claim 61, wherein the upper insulating layer of the firstinsulating layer on the front surface of the substrate and the lowerinsulating layer of the second insulating layer on the back surface ofthe substrate are formed of silicon nitride.